FACULTY HOUSE IS AWARDED LEED GOLD News for the Employees of Columbia University Facilities VOLUME 11 | SUMMER 2010 Contents Faculty House becomes Columbia’s fi rst LEED Gold Certifi ed building on Morningside campus. Awards and achievements abound on page 7. 2 From the Executive Vice President 3 Customer Compliments MORE THAN A DOZEN AT CU FACILITIES 4 Construction Projects GRADUATE WITH MASTER’S DEGREES 5 CUF and the Community 7 Making Columbia Green 9 Awards and Accomplishments 11 Public Safety News 12 Employee News 14 The Back Page More than a dozen Facilities team members prove themselves as masters in their fi elds. More on page 10. This newsletter and additional publications are available at facilities.columbia.edu/newsletters From the Executive Vice President 40,000 (more on page 10). Our team is skilled. Among this year’s Columbia graduates were more than a dozen Facilities team members, who proved themselves as masters in their respective fields (more on page 10). We applaud them and thank them for strengthening our team. These initiatives and our collective work allow us to deliver the high quality of service our clients expect and deserve. As you enjoy the summer, take a moment to read through this issue and celebrate our many successes. Joe Ienuso ith temperatures steadily rising, this summer may prove to be one of the hottest on record and Wone of our most challenging yet. Still, our team remains ever ready, optimizing campus energy usage to reduce our University’s footprint and keep our central plant and buildings operating. Many of our sustainable practices have not only benefitted our community, but they have also garnered us recognition from respected professional associations. Examples include Faculty House and the Gary C. Comer Geochemistry Building. In April, Faculty House became the first LEED Gold Certified building on Morningside campus (read more on page 7). Through your hard work on its recent restoration, Faculty House stands as a premier event space with integrated energy-efficient and water-conserving utilities. Similarly, the Gary C. Comer Geochemistry Building—the University’s first Executive Vice President Joe Ienuso discusses green construction with graduates of LEED (Silver) Certified building—added yet another award the MWL Construction Trades Management Certificate/Mentorship Program during to its list of accolades in April, receiving an award of merit their graduate reception on June 7, 2010. More on page 5. by the America Institute of Architects (more on page 9). Our sustainable work lies not only in green building, but also in keeping our community safe, as seen in the transformation of Public Safety’s security vehicles to an all-hybrid fleet (read more on page 11). Behind these efforts is a strong Facilities team. Our team is dedicated. Many of you, like Ricky Morales (see profile on page 13), have spent more than 25 years serving the community and embodying what we do best. Our team works hard. Your diligence is reflected each year during Commencement Week, when hundreds of you spent weeks prior to the event preparing our campus for our graduates, faculty, family, and friends—in total, a series of celebrations culminating in an intimate gathering of approximately 2 Customer Compliments Dear Facilities, I trust Luis [superintendent, Luis Ramirez] with my life and you must pass I would like to bring to your attention the great work that Cathy [Ryder], on my thanks to him. Moving to New York was a bit scary, after everything I’d Nicole [Thompson] and Juan [Ramos] did as they worked through the heard on TV, etc. through the years about superintendents. Luis is a kind, funny, “sewer” pipe renovation that included our office. The move to the tem- gentle man and must be complimented in any way possible for his extra special porary space was handled without a hitch. The painting, patching, smells, service. This goes for the emergency toilet overflows (my fault), the lockouts (my cleaning, etc was done with a smile. I will follow up with them personally but fault), and the weird little things that he fixed. Great guy. Thank you. wanted you to also know they did a great job! Laurel Ackerson ’10 Annette Lopes Executive Director, Human Resources What can I say, not only that I was so lucky to find a wonderful apartment, Facilities’ Finance & Administration but it’s in the building with the best Super [Gasper Rivera] in the world. Thank you sooo much for fixing the toilet the same day! I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you [Gasper Rivera] and your staff for such an amazing job maintaining the building. Thank you for being Zafir Buraei so responsive to any maintenance requests and for keeping the building in Associate Research Scientist excellent condition. We’ve lived here almost 6 years, and it has been a really Biological Sciences wonderful place to live. We’re sad we have to move! I can only hope our next super is as organized and meticulous as you are. I am pleased to say the noise issue at 600 West 116th Street has been resolved. I want to thank you and Denis [Kore] for your cooperation and efforts. I have to Lisa Uperesa tell you that your super, Denis, was just wonderful throughout the entire process. Tenant He demonstrated a high level of patience and professionalism, along with a great 100 Morningside Drive concern to resolve this matter. People like him should be commended for their good work ethics, which I find these days are becoming extinct. Please relay my I just wanted to give you my feedback for 511 West 112th Street. I lived here gratitude to him and thanks again. for two years and my experience was great. Overall, the building is being kept in really good condition … The super, Ivan Celin, and the rest of the staff Daniel S. Davis here were amazing. Very polite and on top of things and always responded Associate Director to any repairs that we may have needed promptly. All in all, two really good Office of Facilities Services Columbia Housing years. Barnard College Regina Vorria I want to personally thank you and your team for their outstanding and re- MFA Candidate ‘11 sponsive service in responding to our work order requests, especially during Columbia University School of the Arts the busy time of Commencement. With all that was going on around campus, Facilities did not skip a beat in completing our work orders. This is an amaz- Few words are necessary to commend the growth and professionalism of ing accomplishment. I would like to especially thank Joshua Morrison and Manuel Pequero. Working closely with Superintendent Karl Jones, is Marah Arbaje for their continued support in our day to day facility requests. conscientious, detail-oriented, knowledgeable, dependable, understanding There is not one email, phone call, or request that goes unattended on a daily and, as is Karl, accessible—particularly for me (spine surgery) when I (rarely) basis—and always with a wonderful attitude and smile. have an urgent request. Manuel, as does Karl, raises the bar to all of the above. Whatever the situation—renovation in building, moves in/out, emer- Joe DeGise gencies—the process is smooth and tenants take note. In addition, Manuel’s Clinical Systems Specialist leadership is becoming quite obvious—staff responsibilities run like clock- Columbia University Health Services work. Manuel is an excellent representative of the Columbia community. We are, and have been, very fortunate. I wanted to express our sincere thanks for the renovation in our apartment. We wanted to point out that Ingrid Reyes did a great job of managing the Harriette Weisman contractors and all of the other details of this project. Ingrid did everything Tenant possible to keep the project on schedule and assure that the work was done 400 West 119th Street properly. This project has been a great success, and we are eternally grateful to you, Ingrid [Reyes], and the rest of your team for making this happen. Brian Donnelly Director of Educational Technology and Lecturer in Law Columbia Law School thank you. A big thank you to all of you! I did not receive one complaint or angry par- ent/student regarding a dirty room. We couldn’t have done it without you. Frances Gonzalez Assistant Manager Student and Guest Accommodations Columbia University Housing Services Send your compliments to Reńee Walker at [email protected]. 3 Construction Projects Summer Construction Activity Year round, Columbia University Facilities manages a wide array of renovation and improvement projects both on and off campus as part of our mission to maintain a safe, beautiful, and functional campus environment. A significant portion of these projects takes place during the summer months, when the reduced campus population makes it possible to complete work. Some of this summer’s construction activities are detailed below. Aluminum and steel continue to meet at the Fairchild, Mudd, and Schermerhorn Northwest Corner Building, as bridge Hall Extension will boast state-of-the-art connections between Chandler and Pupin laboratories, office spaces, and equipment. and interior and exterior work continues in anticipation of the fall 2010 opening. With updated floors and office spaces and a new audio-visual equipment in the Kellogg Center, the International Affairs Building will further support students’ and faculty’s global studies. The undergraduate architecture program welcomes renovations to Lewisohn Alfred Lerner Hall’s will recieve minor Hall’s 100 level. While across campus, renovations for Health Services (800 Philosophy’s 300 level will see repairs to a level) and Academic Advising (400 level). conference room and office spaces for the Hamilton Hall’s 300, 400, and 800 levels undergraduate writing program.